Signal device for railways.



J. L WH. JENNINGS.

`SIGNAL DEVICE FOB. RAILWAYS.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH Co.. WASHINGTON, D. cA

rens

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS.

tus for electric railway crossings, and consist-s in the arrangement ofparts whereby the trolley wheel sets the signal into and out of`operation.

The object of the invention is to provide the intersections of electricrailways and highway crossings with signal apparatuses which are setinto and out of operation by means located on the top of the cars.

`We accomplish the object of the invention by means of the signalapparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, inwhich- Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a portion of a trolley wireshowing the relation of the covers, for inclosing the mechanism foractuating the signals, with the trolleywire. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical sectional view through the covers for the mechanism, and alsoshowing a diagrammatic view of the wires for connect-ing said mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3 in Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the trolley-wire, which may beemployed as the main feed-wire for supplying the electric current foroperating the mechanism of the signal apparatus. Located remotely, y

at least one-thousand feet, on each side of a crossing V12 we providecertain mechanism whereby the circuit is closed to operate the signal atthe crossing. Said mechanism is inclosed by means of a rectangular boXshaped cover 13, open at one side, placed into an inverted position, soas to shelter the mechanism therein. The housings or covers 13 are heldin a suspended position over the trolley-wire by means of the guy-.wires14, and suitable connection is made between the covers and thetrolley-wire by the posts 15. The mechanism located within the covers13, remotely on both sides of the crossing, consists of a pivotallymounted arm 18V which is provided with a slot 19 to allow said plate tostraddle the trolley-wire 10, when hanging in normal perpendicular posi-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 24, 1911.

Patented Dee. 10, 1912.

serial No. 645,854.

tion. The arm 18 is actuated by the passing trolley wheel of a car andmay be moved into engagement with the core of a suitable magnet 21,whereby the electric current on the left hand side of the signalapparatus is closed. The arm 18 is brought within the signal circuit bymeans of a wire 25 which extends to and engages one of the terminals ofthe magnets of the signal bell 26, and the other terminal of the magnetisv connected by means of the wire 27 with the feed wire 16. A series ofincandescent lamps 28 are interposed in the line of wire 27 so that theproper resistance to the current is secured. rlhe end of the core of themagnet 21 opposite that end contacted by the arm 18 is connected withthe ground by means of a wire 30. The preceding description relates tothe signal circuit on the left hand side of the crossing, and thecircuit on the other side of the crossing comprises a wire 35 leadingfrom one ofthe terminals of the magnets in the bell 26 to and engagingthe arm 37, which is similar to the arm 18. The arm 37, similar to thearm 18, is actuated by the trolley wheel and may be moved intoengagement with the core of the magnet 40 to close the circuit of thesignal.

When a car is moved from left to right in Fig. 2, the arm 18 will bemoved into engagement with the core of the magnet 21 which closes thesignal circuit. When said signal circuit is closed the alarm 26 will besounded and the lamps 28 lighted and so remain until the car reaches thecrossing and engages a breaker, through which means the signal circuitis opened. The breaker is inclosed within a suitable housing' 45 similarto 13, and consists of a pivotally mounted arm 46, the lower end of saidarm being forked to straddle the trolley-wire so that its operation bythe trolley wheel is assured. The upper end of the movable arm 46normally engages a metallic plate 50 so that the circuitis normallyclosed through the magnet side of the signal apparatus. The plate 50 isconnected with the coil of magnet 21 by means of the wire 52, the otherend of the coil of said magnet being grounded through the wire 53. Theother side of the magnet circuit consists in connecting the coil of themagnet 40 with the arm 46 through the wire 57, and the magnet 40 isgrounded through the wire 41. The magnet circuit connects with the feedwire 16 by means of the wire 59. As heretofore stated, the magnetcircuit stands normally closed, the magnets 21 and 40 being keptenergized so that the circuit through the signal may be closed any timethat the arms 18 and 37 are moved into engagement with the cores of saidmagnets. When the trolley wheel engages and actuates the movable arm 46,whereby the upper end of said arm is removed from the plate 50, thecircuit through the magnets is momentarily opened, allowing one or bothof the arms 18 and 37 ,to drop, by gravity, from t-he positions shown bymeans of the dotted lines in Fig. Q-showing said arms engaged with thecores of the magnets-into a perpendicular position, shown by means ofthe full lines in said figure. TWhen the arms 1S and 37 are releasedfrom the cores of the magnets, the circuit through the signal is broken.The arm 46 when released from the trolley wheel immediately assumes itsnormal position and contacts the plate 50, whereby the circuit throughthe magnets is again closed.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a trolley wire, a pair of signal circuit closingdevices mounted remotely from each other on said wire, a magnet in eachof said circuit closing devices, pivoted arms to be moved into contactwith the cores of the magnets-by the trolley w'heels, wires connectingthe cores of the magnets with the wire connecting the pivoted armstogether, a feed wire, a connect-ion between said feed wire and saidsignal circuit wire, a signal device in said connection, a wire groundedat each end and including the windings of said magnets, a circuitbreaking device comprising a centrally pivoted breaker-arm mounted inproximity to the trolley wire and adapted to be operated by a trolleywheel, and a conduct-ing plate normally contacted by the breaker-arm, aconnect-ion from said feed wire to the breakerarm, and a connection fromsaid conducting plate to said wire including the magnet coils wherebythe circuit through said magnets is normally closed.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals atIndianapolis, In-

diana, this 11th day oi'vAu'gust, A. D. oneV thousand nine hundred andeleven.

JOHN JENNINGS. WILLIAL H. JENNINGrS.l

`Witnessesz F. W. WOERNER, J A. MINTURN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ZD. C.

ground, a signal circuit

